Every Moment with You_Redeeming Love

by J. E. Parker

  Shelby jumped into action. Grabbing the essentials, she began putting together a new intake package. Clean sheets, soap, deodorant, three toothbrushes, toothpaste, and a box of Kleenex all got tossed in a corded white plastic bag. “How bad is it?”

  I closed my eyes as anger churned in the pit of my guts. “Bad. Daisy didn’t go into a lot of detail. Just said the woman has a fractured arm, busted collarbone and shattered wrist along with significant bruising and abrasions on her face.”

  As soon as the words left my mouth, a memory came rushing forward. I could hear his voice just as clearly as if he were standing in front of me. “It’s not a deep cut, pretty girl. It’ll heal soon.” My hands began to shake. I felt sick. If I had a choice, I would have crawled into the corner and cried myself to sleep.

  Thankfully, Shelby hissed out a curse, pulling me back to the present. “And who’s the bastard that’s responsible?”

  “Her husband.” Her jaw ticked, and her right eye twitched.

  “What about the boys? They okay?”

  I nodded once. “Physically? Yes. Emotionally? Remains to be seen.”

  “Oh no.” She dipped her head forward before quickly jerking it back up. “Please tell me the boys didn’t see it happen.” One look at my face and she already knew the answer to her question. “Gosh dang it!” She smacked the metal-linen rack beside her with the palm of her hand. “That son of a bitch. That. Son. Of. A. Frickin’. Bitch!”

  I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “The oldest boy… he was the one to call 911.”

  Shelby’s eyes widened in horror. “Oh, Jesus.”

  I dropped the towels I was folding into a white laundry basket at my feet. “I know, I can’t even imagine.” But I could imagine. I’d seen first-hand how wicked people could be, how evil they could become. “All three of them have a long road ahead of them.”

  “That’s the truth. So, what’s the plan? I mean, do we need to call in extra security? Is the husband still a threat?”

  Leaning over, I picked up the laundry basket and a box of trash bags. “I have no clue. Transport will brief us once they get here.” I glanced up at the clock on the laundry room wall. “Which should be any minute now.” I nodded towards the door. “Come on. Let’s go. We’ve still got a lot of stuff to get done before they get here.”

  Clenching the intake bag in her hands, Shelby walked out of the room first, and I followed. By the set of her shoulders, I knew she was upset. Not that I blamed her. Day after day, week after week, it was the same thing.

  Battered women.

  Abused children.

  One after another, they walked through the shelter’s door covered in fresh bruises and sporting mangled limbs, seeking solace and safety. Looking for someone to help them.

  That, someone, was me. It was also Shelby, a girl who’d experienced more than her share of demons, and the dozen other shelter employees who worked tirelessly and with little pay, to save the forgotten.

  To protect the broken.

  Just like I should have protected him.

  Approaching my office, I saw all six members of my team huddled around my desk waiting for me. Shelby must’ve paged them when I wasn’t looking.

  I dropped the laundry basket on the floor next to my filing cabinet and huffed out a breath, blowing the limp strands of hair out of my face. “Alright, so…,” addressing each of five women plus one man in the room. “We’ve got three new intakes set to arrive any moment.” I walked over to my fax machine, grabbed the still warm sheets of paper that had just been printed, and quickly scanned them. “The first intake is a woman, named Clara O’Bannon. She’s twenty-three and has two sons. Both of which will arrive with her. Liam is the oldest. He’s five. And Declan, the littlest guy, is four.”

  The shelter’s head of security, ex-marine, and all around badass, Evan Morgan, crossed his arms over his wide chest. The thin cotton of his shirt strained against the broad muscles. “What happened?”

  I looked up, my eyes meeting his. “I don’t know much except that it was her husband who did it.” He opened his mouth to speak again, but I already knew what he would ask. “Wrist, collarbone, and arm are all broken. She also has visible lacerations on her face.”

  Evan shook his head, his jaw clenched tight. “They arrest the husband?”

  I nodded. “Yes. The police arrested him at the scene. At a minimum, he’ll be on a twenty-four-hour domestic violence hold but then,” my stomach rolled, “after that, he may bond out.”

  “He got the resources for that?”

  “We think so.”

  The room fell silent as each of us let my words sink in.

  More victims. Another monster.

  Shelby was the first to speak. “What do you need us to do?” She chewed on her thumbnail. It was a nervous habit she’d had ever since I’d met her two years ago.

  “Yeah, boss lady, give us the orders so we can get started.” That came from Ethel, one of the sweetest old ladies I’d ever met. She reminded me so much of my Grandmama.

  I dropped the file on my desk and looked at Evan, “I need you outside waiting for transport. They’re supposed to call when their ETA is two minutes, but you know how that goes. Also, while you’re waiting, do you mind doing another walk around? We haven’t had any trouble in a few weeks, so that means we’re due.”

  Evan nodded. “I’m on it, sweetheart.” Turning on his heel, he left, his hand on the gun he kept at his side.

  I looked to Carissa. Carissa was twenty and a full-time college student majoring in social work. She’d been volunteering at the shelter for the last two years and was one of the best workers I had. “Can you take Heidi and get three beds ready?”

  Heidi was Carissa’s eighteen-year-old sister. She was smart, beautiful, and one of the most soft-hearted people I’d ever met. I can’t tell you how many times I’d found her crying in the bathroom over some of the things she’d witnessed while volunteering. But like the angel she was, she continued to help and continued to fight for those who couldn’t fight for themselves, even when it was killing her on the inside.

  I couldn’t have been prouder of either girl.

  Like Shelby, Evan, Ethel, and Hope, they were rays of light in an otherwise dark world. They were the good, the grace, that everyone at the shelter clung to.

  “We’re on it.” Carissa grabbed Heidi’s hand and drug her out of the room.

  Next, I peered over at Ethel. “Granny Ethel, tonight two little boys watched their Daddy beat their mama half to death. The oldest, Liam, was the one to call 911 to get his mama some help. He more than likely saved her life.” Tears glistened in her eyes as her mouth twisted in sorrow. “I bet our little hero would love some of your homemade sugar cookies. Don’t you?”

  Ethel turned around and grabbed her pink and grey checkered apron from a hook on the wall. “Consider it done.” Then, she walked out of the room, her stride determined, as she headed for the kitchen.

  The phone on my desk rang. I picked it up, pressing the receiver to my ear, “Toluca Women’s Shelter.”

  “This is Richard from Defense Transport. Just calling to let you know we’re two minutes out.”

  “Got it. We’ll be ready.” I looked at Shelby and pointed at my watch. She nodded in understanding.

  “10-4. See you in a few.”

  I hung up. Picking up a set of keys from my desk, I looked at the girls. “Let’s go.” I walked out first with both Shelby and Hope falling into step behind me.

  Crossing into the main room of the shelter, I plastered a fake smile on my face. Over ninety women and children were watching us as we made our way to the steel door that leads to the outside intake area. Normally, we weren’t this packed, but over the last few weeks, we’d had intake after intake come in. In fact, I’d had to turn away multiple people due to lack of space. Every time I was forced to say no it sent me spiraling. Depression. Anxiety. I suffered from both.

  Macy, a little girl with curly blonde hair, waved in our dir
ection. “Hi!”

  I waved back, my broken heart healing a smidgen at the sight of her smiling face.

  Sweet girl.

  Darlene, a woman in her thirties, stood up as we approached the cot where she slept next to her four children. Like Clara O’Bannon, Darlene had been abused at the hands of a monster.

  A monster who had vowed to love, protect, and honor her for the rest of their lives.

  “New arrivals?” She crossed her arms protectively over her chest. I nodded, and Darlene dropped her face to the floor. “Damn it.” She looked back up. “I’m so sorry.”

  I placed my hand on her arm. “Not your fault, beautiful lady.”

  Darlene smiled and some of the heaviness weighing on my shoulders lifted. “I think you’re the first person ever to call me beautiful.”

  I scrunched up my face. “Huh? The rest of the world must be blind then.”

  Raising her hand, she wrapped her bony fingers around my wrist and squeezed. “You’re one in a million, Lucky.” Now it was my turn to smile. Darlene never called me by my real name. When I first met her a little over a month ago, she’d dubbed me Miss Lucky because she said my eyes reminded her of a four-leaf clover. I liked that.

  I liked that a lot.

  The two-way radio clipped to my shorts buzzed, and Evan’s voice came through. “Transports here, boss lady.”

  I unclipped the radio, pressed the button on the side and responded, “Coming out now.”

  Darlene let go of my wrist, and I let my hand drop. “Go get em’, Lucky.” She nodded towards the door. “They need you.”

  They need you.

  I blinked once. Twice. Then, I moved.

  After unlocking the heavy metal door, I waited for Shelby and Hope to take their positions at my side. Together we took a collective breath, and I pulled the door open.

  Here we go…

  Three men, including Evan, stood at the front of a black Suburban with windows tinted so dark they were impenetrable to my eyes. I hustled down the steps, my loose ponytail bouncing with every movement.

  I stepped up next to Evan and waved at the guy holding a brown file under his arm. “Hi,” I said, not really looking at him. I pointed towards the file. “Can I have that?” He handed it over, his fingertips brushing mine. I barely, and I mean barely, kept from recoiling from his touch. “Thanks.”

  I flipped it open and began to read. I was so engrossed by the words on the intake form in front of me that I barely heard the guy say, “Holy shit! I know you.”

  My head popped up. “Excuse me?”

  “Your Maddie Davis.” He smiled, showing off his perfect white teeth. “We went to school together.”

  Oh no.

  “Uh…” I wasn't sure what to say.

  “Come on, girl, don't tell me you've forgotten me.”

  I stared at him.

  Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Tall. Fit. I had no idea who he was. But then he smirked, and it hit me. I knew who he was alright. “You’re Ty Jacobs.” The little bastard who stole my lunch money.

  “That’s me. Damn, baby doll I haven’t seen you in forever. How have you been?”

  We weren’t going there. Snapping the file closed, I handed it back to him and replied, “I’ve been great. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my intakes need me.”

  He stepped back, raking his eyes over me. What. The. Hell? “No problem.”

  I ignored him and walked to the passenger’s side of the suburban. Closing my eyes, I silently prayed. God, please give me strength.

  I opened the door.

  And my heart stopped.

  Maddie

  Shaggy black hair. Chocolate brown eyes. Dimples. A small scar was marring the right side of his cheek.

  It was like looking at a younger version of…

  Oh, God.

  My head grew light, and my heartbeat slowed.

  Thump… Thump… Thump…

  I was going to pass out.

  Shelby touched my back, her fingertips grazing my spine. First Ty and now this. I couldn’t…

  “Hey y’all,” Shelby said from beside me, taking the lead. The warmth of her hand radiated into my spine. “My name is Shelby,” she bumped her shoulder into mine, “and this is Madelyn.” With her thumb, she pointed over her shoulder. “And that silly girl back there is Hope.”

  Hope’s singsong voice floated past my ears. “Hey there!”

  Shelby continued to touch me, her fingers massaging an invisible pressure point that was supposed to stop the panic in its tracks. She knew I was seconds away from losing it and she was doing her best to hold me together.

  You’ve got this, sugar. Just breathe. I heard her voice in my head. Just. Breathe.

  I took a breath and counted to ten.

  I could do this… I had too.

  Lightheaded, I cleared my throat and said, “Hey, little dudes.” I looked from the boys to the young woman sitting beside them. My breathing was heavy and rapid, as my chest rose and fell in quick succession. “Hi, Clara.” I used her first name to avoid reminding her of the piece of shit she was married too.

  Her voice was quiet. Small. Timid. “Hello.”

  One look at her bruised face and cast-covered arm had every protective instinct inside of me roaring to life. Suddenly, I wasn't on the verge of passing out anymore. The only thing I wanted to do was hunt down Mr. O’Bannon and murder him with my bare hands.

  “We’re all glad you’re here.” And away from him, I mentally added. “I promise to do all I can to ensure the time you spend with us is as comfortable,” I dropped my gaze to the boys, “and as awesome as possible.” The boys, who were both huddled close together and pressed into their mother’s side, stared at the floor. For a brief second the older one made brief eye contact with me before dropping his gaze back down.

  They both look so scared.

  It made my heart hurt.

  I steadied myself against the door frame of the SUV. “Do you guys like cookies?” The biggest boy—Liam I assumed—nodded. The smaller little guy stayed silent and unmoving. "Well,” I smiled, my heart rate slowly returning to normal, “our resident baker is inside whipping up a fresh batch of her famous homemade sugar cookies.”

  Shelby squeaked from beside me. I looked over at her, my eyes wide. She sounded like an overjoyed guinea pig. “Sorry,” she looked from me to the boys, “it’s just that Granny Ethel’s cookies are delicious. I hope she made a lot because I’ll eat at least a dozen of those suckers.”

  Hope sounded off from behind me. “Me too!”

  Since food was involved, of course, Evan spoke up. “Sugar cookies? Grannies making sugar cookies?”

  I nodded. “Yep.”

  Liam sat up straighter. “Can we have a cookie?”

  Bingo!

  I bent over slightly and placed my hands on my knees. “Course you can, honey. But for you to have a cookie, I’m gonna need you to come inside with me.” I waited to see if he would freak out. He didn’t. “You think you can do that?”

  He leaned forward. “Can my mommy and brudder come with me too?”

  Brudder… brother. He was so stinking adorable.

  “Absolutely! I bet your mommy and little brother would like a few cookies too.”

  Liam’s eyebrows furrowed as he mulled over his answer. Seconds passed before he said, “Okay.” He looked towards his mother. “Is that okay, mama?”

  Clara smiled. “Yes, honey.”

  Liam smiled in return. “Come on, Declan.” He grabbed his brother’s hand. “Let’s go get cookies.”

  I looked at their mother. “Is that okay?” I mouthed, reiterating Liam’s question. I just wanted to double check.

  She nodded in return, a small smile gracing her busted and swollen lips.

  Liam was the first one out of the SUV. He jumped to the ground, his slipper-covered feet hitting the asphalt parking lot with a soft thud. “I love your slippers!” I pointed at the Kermit the Frog shoes. “I need to buy me a pair of those.”

  He
smiled and puffed out his little chest. “Mommy got em’ at Target.”

  I glanced at Shelby. “I think we need to make a Target run.”

  She nodded in agreement. “Totally. Wonder if they have a Tweety bird pair in my size?”

  “I betcha can find ‘em on that amazing site on the ‘puter where mommy gets stuff.”

  Amazing site? I was confused. Oh, wait. “Amazon?”

  “Yeah. Amazon-ing.”

  Oh, my God! How friggin’ cute is this kid?

  I smiled. “You know something? You may just be one of the cutest little dudes I’ve ever seen.” His eyes light up for a brief second before something to the side caught our attention.

  Declan, nearly shaking and looking like he was ready to bolt, climbed out of the Suburban next. He was more guarded than his older brother. Just like…

  Stop it.

  Kneeling in front of him, I smiled. “Hey, buddy.” He didn’t answer me nor did he look up. I tried my best to keep my voice soft. “How are you?” Still, no answer. “So, you’re a quiet kiddo, huh?” I clasped my hands together. “That’s okay. I can talk enough for both of us. And Shelby,” I pointed over my shoulder, “she can talk enough for all of us.”

  Shelby laughed. “It’s true. Once I get started, I don’t know how to stop. It’s like my mouth is a motor and…” She sighed. “See, here I go again.”

  A small smile played at the corner of Declan’s mouth. “She talks fast.”

  I laughed. Full-out laughed. “She does, doesn’t she?”

  He nodded, and my insides warmed. I stood. “Okay, now that we’ve got the introductions out of the way, who’s ready for some cookies?”

  “Me,” Liam said.

  “Can I have two?” Declan asked, looking up for the first time.

  Yep, totally adorable.

  “Of course, you can, cutie pie.” Everything in me screamed for me to reach out and pull them in for a hug. They—like their mother—needed comforting so badly. But I couldn’t do that. If I did it would scare them to death.

  Never touch an abuse victim without their prior consent.

  I turned to Clara who was still in the car, her eyelids heavy, no doubt from the prescription pain-killers she’d been given before leaving the hospital. “Is it okay if Hope takes them inside now? Or do you want them to wait here while we get you out of the car?” I leaned closer so only she could hear what I was saying. “Either way is fine. All you have to do is tell me what you want, honey.”